RAYANA

Chapter 7

For the tenth time this day, I adjust the pink backpack on my lap and my eyeglasses uncomfortable, I was beyond pissed right now but I don't have a choice but to do what he wanted.

This is his plan. I couldn't understand why he wants me to be this kind of a girl that could be girly in pink and so colorful s**t things to wear.

I am wearing a white floral dress alright, I like it because I always wore dresses but stripe long socks and rubbershoes, pink backback and pig tails in both side with braces, and eyeglasses. His shitting on me!

"Can you not move around Reya? Malapit na tayo.."

I look up and glare at him between my glasses. Reya huh? That s**t name.

I can't believe I agree with this.

"Remember what we practiced?" Sulyap nya at ngumisi sa akin. I know his laughing out loud on the back on his mind while watching me in this disguise.

"Don't remind me." I coldly said while looking away and glare at the forestry around.

We are in the secluded town near southeast which located near the sea. We are far away from him, from my father yet this feeling that I don't need to say name for me to know what it is helpless and for the first time sad. All I know that I despised the blue color.

The car stop in front of a small but homey house. Dalawang magkatabing bahay ang nasa pagitan ng mga puno, the beautiful front yards are full of flowers and green flatted grass around. The street is so quiet and peaceful, sa kabilang kalsada ay may nakita pa kung sunod sunod na mga bahay na mas malalaki.

Sumulyap ako kay Reiga na pababa na ng sasakyan. I face my side and ready to go out when I saw a girl with I think the same age I was looking lost when she watch Reiga going out, like she's disappointed or something.

Reiga block my sight to that girl and position his self to face between those two house, arrogantly stand with his designer suit and shoes, napapairap na binuksan ko ang pinto sa gilid ko at bumaba ng marahan.

"R-Reiga.."

I closed the door and wearily walk while watching the new comer.

She's shocked to saw Reiga like it's more than decades since they've meet. Kahit sa picture ko lang sya nakita alam ko ng sya ang tinutukoy ni Reiga na magiging guardian ko.

The beautiful heart face, thin lips, high nose and brown eyes. She's beautiful on picture but more in personal. She's glowing, and gentle.

I stop and hold Reiga's suit while hiding myself on his back. Acting like a scared cat, but all I want is to kick his ass right now. Girl, that's his ex. Reina Leine Villaluz is his ex.

She gasp when she saw me holding Reiga tight.

Iba rin! Iba rin talaga tong si Reiga!

"Hi Reine.." Napasulyap ako kay Reiga ng marinig ang boses nya. No comment but his like a puppy right now.

"H-Hi.. What are you doing here?" She asked glancing at me. I pretend to hide myself and crinkle my nose secretly. I don't really want to act weak.

Someone gasp and we look at the girl who's watching Reiga and the woman.

"Mommy si Tita Lei bumalik yung Ex nya! Mommy!" Biglang sigaw ng bata at nagtatakbo papasok ng bahay.

"Sandy!" Sigaw ni Lei and I think nahihiya na syang humarap sa amin dahil sa pagsigaw ng bata.

Mabilis kung sinapak sa likod si Riega na mukhang tanga pa ring nakatayo. Ano pang hinintay nito?

Tumikhim agad si Reiga at hinawakan ako sa kamay para lumapit kay Leine.

"Ano Lei..?" He suddenly stop when someone burst out of the door and reappeared the woman who have knife on her hand raising in front of us.

"You! Ang kapal ng mukha mong gago kang pumunta dito!" Sigaw nito at sumugod agad sa amin.

Napaatras si Reiga kaya muntik nya na kung matapakan kung di ko lang sya naalalayan ng maayos.

"Ate!" Harang nung Leine.

"Gago ka! Sing kapal ng encyclopedia yang kakapalan ng mukha mo! Matapos mong iwan ang kapatid ko babalik balik ka dito! Alis!"

Turo turo nya sa amin gamit ang kutsilyo.

"Ate naman!" Sigaw nung Leine.

Reiga shield his self infront of me while held me closer. I saw his reaction, it's epic. Gusto ko tuloy tumawa but it's weird so I just hide my face to his stomach.

"Lei Lei Paalisin mo yan! Tarantado yan eh!"

"Ate stop it!"

"No! Ang kapal ng mukha!"

"Ate, May bata nga syang kasama! Can you stop!" Galit na sigaw na nung Leine.

"A-Ano...?" Tigil nung babae at tumitig sa amin. Nabibiglang mabilis nyang tinago ang hawak nyang kutsilyo sa likod nya, giving me an apologizing tight smile.

Leine sigh heavily while watching us both hugging each other.

I was seating on a long couch while I heard them arguing inside the kitchen.

I cringed to heard Reiga's voice so low and soft while talking to Leine. His such a f*****g puppy when he is with her.

The living room have a long sofa with soft furry pillows and two love seat, center table, a flat screen TV. The wall was light brown and white.

I stand up and walk to the kitchen. It's an open kitchen so can heard their argument. He explained to her how he saved me and take him as it's own but he should hide me for my safety, he apologized of their history and make amends to it, what an ass right?

So the She which Leine got the back up words saying she moved on and don't care about their history but I heard her voice hoarse a bit. Ganito ba talaga pag mga matatanda na? Ayuko tuloy tumanda.

"Come on Reine.. Let Reya stay here for awhile. Please! I can't let her go anywhere and you're the only one I trust with taking care of her. She needs a mother to guide her and I can't give her that.."

"Then find a woman who can, bakit ako Reiga?.."

"Because you like kids.. and you are a mother figure. We always plan to had it Raine.."

"You're really an asshole!" That's right.

"But it's true.. And I'm sorry I can't give you that." I hold the side of the door and take a pick on them. I saw how helpless Reiga's reaction, if it's not just the situation I'll laugh at him but I won't, I can't because of what he said. So, that's why they end up like this. Reiga will never have a child on his own.

"Reiga!" Garalgal na tawag ni Leine.

Magsasalita pa sana si Reiga ng humakbang ako papasok. I saw Leine watch me when I'm approached them. Reiga stand up and hold my head. I saw how he suddenly changed his reaction when he saw me and composed his self.

"Reiga.. Can we go now?" Marahan kung tanong at umakap sa bewang nya while looking at Raine wearily. I saw how her mind conflicted between the both of us. I look away and hugged him tight. If she doesn't want me then I'm ok with that.

"A-Alright.." He said. He look at Leine before taking my hand.

"We better go now Raine. Thank you for letting us in." He said smiling at her before held me out on the kitchen.

He helped me got my backpack but Laine suddenly showed in our side with a serious face.

"I'm going to agree..."

"Really?" Reiga.

"But!..." She sigh and stare at Reiga intently.

 But I want to make sure that you're not gonna MIA again. This is difficult Reiga because it wasn't my forte to take care of a kid, so we both in with this. "

"Ako ang bahala sa financial na pangangailangan ni Reya.. I can take care of everything. You can always call my number right away. Reya is a behave kid and smart. She can understand easily right hon?" Mabilis na saad ni Reiga at bumaling sa akin.

Nagpalipat lipat ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa bago tumango.

We settled ourselves to the couch while she seat to the love seat. She's always watching me with him like a mother who's been scolding us but when she saw me looking, she smile.

"I get ready her documents Raine.. You don't have to worry of things. Reya hon can you introduce yourself to Raine." Baling sa akin ni Reiga helping me to stand up.

"Hello.. I'm Reyalene Evon. I'm 12.. Nice to meet you Raine." Saad ko sa mahinhing boses.

"Y-You can call me Tita Raine Reya.." Ngiti nya sa akin pero nagtatanong ang mata nya kay Reiga.

"She's not used to called someone in a formal way Raine.. She was born in US and adopted their culture in some way." Tango ni Reiga making me look at him.

"Ohh. Right.. Then Reya you can call me Lei." Ngiti niya sa akin, tumango ako.

"Can I hug you?" Nabigla ako sa request nya at tumingin kay Reiga.

He glance at me and smile fondly.

Nakaabang na ang mga braso ni Lei sa akin and I settled myself to her body. The warm of her body is soothing and very nice, I smell her shampoo and body wash. It's new for me to feel it but it's really nice. I like it. I unconsciously settle my head to her shoulder and makes me comfortable. Closing my eyes. She let me and carress my back and head.

It takes a long before she let me go. I turn and saw Reiga watching us so fondly with a big smile and a glitters on his eyes, the prominent inside of it is sadness with glints of hope.

I heard Lei sigh heavily and smile again at me but it's genuine this time with her red eyes. I don't know what they are wearing the same expression but I just settled myself again to Reiga's side.

After they talk about the arrangement, Lei tour us around the house before go to my new room in the second floor of the house.

It's her old room. Hindi nya na ginamit at sa master bedroom na daw siya natutulog, she's an only child and her parents died long time ago, her bestfriend was her neighbor which is the woman who have the knife awhile ago and the girl was named Sandy. Treated them like a family. 

The room was filled with stuff toys and dirty white wall, there's a single bed a carpet, two lamp shade and side tables, a study table in front of the big window that have a transparent white curtains but I didn't expect the ceiling have glow in the dark illusion galaxies. I saw a door that I think the Cr so I go in. It have shower and small bath tub and a toilet, a sink and a small drawer to the side.

I stop when I heard the car start. I gasp and run outside.

I saw Reiga ready to go inside while Raine was at the door waiving at him.

She stop when she saw me.

"Reya.." I didn't listen and just run to Reiga.

"Reya!"

I saw Reiga stop and didn't expect me to run to him. I whimpered when I jump to hug his waist. I gripped his blazer on the back so tight and gasp.

"Ayuko dito Reiga.." Iling at bulong ko sa kanya. Hugging his waist. I realize that from the moment, I am scared of changes. This isn't familiar to me and it scare the hell out of me.

I cope for those months because Zac has the same experience as I was and Reiga has been around me since then, and the possibility of the changes around me is terrifying.

I am born to fight, to shed blood around, to release dark side and unnerving capacity of fears around me.

but when the scenery, the atmosphere and the people around was different new and not familiar, I don't know what to do.

"Reya.. Hey." Saway ni Reiga at pilit akung hinihiwalay sa kanya.

Umiling ako at lalong kumapit.

"Sasama ako Reiga.. Let's go back.."

"Reya!.." Asik ni Reiga at nagawa nya kung ihiwalay sa kanya, holding my arms, he settled him self on the ground the align his face to me. Looking at my face, I didn't expect him to have red eyes while watching my face.

"What are you doing? Gusto mo bang masayang ang effort natin?.. Go back to Raine. She's gonna take care of you."

"I can take care of myself.. Let's go back." Giit ko trying to get his clothes but he stop my hands.

"This is what we planned Reya.. It's for your own good."

"I don't want this.." Iling ko.

He close his eyes tight before pulling me closer and hug me so tight.

"This is a changing environment Reya but it's for the best.. Raine will take care of you and I am visiting you if I have time. I'll call you every week."

Bulong nya sa akin at hinalikan ako sa noo.

"I hate your plan Reiga.." Kunot kung saad habang humihiwalay sa kanya. He laugh at me and hold my face.

I watch him get inside his car. He smile greatly at me while I just look away. I look back to Raine when the car drives away..

She smile at me with a soft eyes and held her hands for me.

Is it scary to know the changes or I am scared to know that I had to change myself for this new life of mine?